Surname Boltzel - Meaning and Origin

Boltzel: What does the surname Boltzel mean?

The last name Boltzel is of Germanic origin. This surname had its beginnings in Middle High German, and it is derived from a combination of the words 'bolts' or 'boltz', meaning 'a small stream' or 'channel', and 'buwael' meaning 'wall'.

The surname Boltzel likely originated as a descriptor of someone who lived by a small stream or streambed. This could refer to a person who resided by a body of water and farmed its banks, someone living on or near the shore of a lake, or perhaps even a fisherman who made his living off the fish of the stream.

The name Boltzel is still popular today in German-speaking countries. It is recorded in a variety of spellings which include Boltz, Boltzell, Bolzel, Boltzle, Bolzle, Bolsel, Bolletz, Bolz, Boldzel, Bolkl, and Bolzmann.

Overall, the Boltzel last name is thought to be a locational name referring to someone who resided by a small stream or stream bed. It is believed to be derived from two Middle High German words, which hold the meanings of "small stream" and "wall". Today, only a few hundred people in Germany bear the Boltzel name in its various forms.

Boltzel: Where does the name Boltzel come from?

The last name Boltzel is most commonly found in the German-speaking countries of Europe. The earliest records of this name date back to the 16th century in the region of Upper Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Boltzel is a surname derived from the German word bolz, meaning “meadow,” and zeil, meaning “border,” which could suggest that the ancient Boltzel family had lands near a meadow that bordered their possessions.

Today, the name is widespread throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as in parts of France and the Netherlands. However, it is not found as commonly beyond these areas. It may also be a Americanized version of a similar-sounding German name. For example, the name Bohlzel is also found in Germany today and could be a source of the surname Boltzel.

The last name Boltzel has been carried to North America by immigrants over the past few centuries. In the United States, the Boltzel surname is especially popular in Pennsylvania and Illinois, though there are small communities of Boltzels living in all of the other states. The highest concentrations of the Boltzel family in the United States can be found in the states of Pennsylvania and Illinois. Other states with significant Boltzel populations include Ohio, New York, and California.

The surname may also be found in Canada in small numbers, as well as in South America, Mexico, and Australia, carried to these countries by immigrants over the past several centuries.

Variations of the surname Boltzel

Boltzel is a German and Jewish surname. It is derived from Old German words such as “Boltz” and “Belz”, which both mean “belt” or “sword”. This was likely an occupational name meaning a worker in armor or a sword smith. The surname Boltzel is found in records from as early as the 15th century.

Variant spellings include Bolz, Bolzle, Bolzele, Bolzell, Bolzelle, Bolzil, Bolze, and Bolzlie. All of these variants are thought to be derived from the same origin.

The surname Bolte is a similar modernized spelling of Boltzel. Other variants include Böltze, Bolz, Bölzle, Bölze, Bölzil, Bölzlie, and Bölzel.

Surnames of similar origin include Boltz, Beltz, Bolzmann, Belzner, Bilz, Bely, and Belzer. All of these names have similar meanings and origins as Boltzel, but a different spelling.

In addition, some variations of the Boltzel surname exist in Jewish or Yiddish derivations such as Bialz or Bialzi.

To summarize, the surname Boltzel has numerous variants and spellings, as well as a variety of similar surnames of the same origin. The surname is derived from words meaning “belt” or “sword”, which was likely an occupational name. Variants include Bolz, Bolzle, Bolzele, Bolzell, Bolzelle, Bolzil, Bolze, and Bolzlie. Jewish or Yiddish variations include Bialz or Bialzi, and similar surnames include Boltz, Beltz, Bolzmann, Belzner, Bilz, Bely, and Belzer.

Famous people with the name Boltzel

• Ryan Boltzel: Former professional baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Jacob Boltzel: American stunt performer.
• Joe Boltzel: Bassist for the band Skillet.
• Robert Boltzel: Professor of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh.
• Stephen Boltzel: Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans.
• Thomas Boltzel: American actor and producer.
• Paul Boltzel: Retired United States Air Force brigadier general.
• Christina Boltzel: German women's basketball player.
• Dave Boltzel: Former American professional basketball player.
• Ben Boltzel: Actor, musician, and voice-over artist.

Other surnames

BoltzBöltzBoltze